Medical Care (Anchorage, Fairbanks, Barrow: live, price, shop)

[RayinAK]

I agree with you that most doctors and nurses are very nice and friendly. The healthcare service in Alaska is very nice. But there are a very few medical specialists, and that's why a lot of people go to Seattle and other States for some major surgery. And yes, there are a few real good surgeons in Fairbanks, and Anchorage, I assume. At least it has gotten much better for the past few years.

[notreesininceland]

Originally Posted by RayinAK

You are right. I don't know anything about economics. So, now that the value of the dollar is the lowest in fourteen years...

Ray, please take a look at -

Modified goldbugism at the WSJ - Paul Krugman Blog - NYTimes.com

and

Beware the dollar hawks - Paul Krugman Blog - NYTimes.com

The declining dollar is NOT an exigency.

ps: It is remarkable that we have today Nobel Laureates blogging and writing in terms that laymen can understand.

[JavaPhil]

I had a stent out in in Providence and the care was excellent. Up to a point. When they took the catheter out from my leg that they used to put in the stent, they tore the artery as it threaded out through my gut. Lucky me. I was in a hospital where they could take care of that little problem too. And tried to charge me for the privelege. And for the 3 extra days stay so I could recover from the 3 units of blood lost internally. Wow. I'm SO glad they were there to take such great care.

No, I didn't sue them as I was recovering from a heart attack that they treated, and possibly saved my life into the bargain. I just made sure I talked litigation when they tried to charge me for their mistake. It was really a warranty issue. LOL

[snkalaska]

Studies show that health care costs in Ak are high. This is attributable to lack of competition. Sort of the same situation with gasoline. High prices, no competition. There are no networks of providers, outside of Beechstreet, that will give discounts to health plans. Providers love Ak because each one can charge whatever the market will bear. Some doctors are charging way more than UCR because they believe they are that good, but insurance plans will usually cap payment to a "reasonable" level and you pay the rest.
There is a fairly new hospital in the Valley and the hospitals in Soldotna and Homer have had major expansions done recently.

[Grannysroost]

Originally Posted by RayinAK

The hospitals are in the major cities: Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau. The rest are mostly clinics. For big emergencies in bush Alaska (remote villages and such), air transportation to a hospital in one of the cities is common, but extremely expensive (from $8,000 to perhaps $20,000 depending on the emergency flight). Those who have the cash or the right insurance usually go to hospitals in Seattle and other places in the lower-48 where the best medical care is found. Now, there are several excellent surgeons in Anchorage in Fairbanks who take care of emergencies relating to bear (or wolf) mauling, gun shots, stabbing, etc. The bottom line is that medical care in Alaska is extremely expensive.

Dental care is very expensive, too. For example a dental crown with root canal around Fairbanks costs from $1,000 to $1,400. Medical care is a lot more expensive than dental, however. A 10-min ride to the hospital on an ambulance could cost over $400.00 or more. My son had such an emergency not too long ago (Fairbanks), and for a ride to the hospital from the University cost $450.00.

I found this online about Medivac in Alaska (be aware that it's an insurance advertisement, but it tells how much a Medivac trip costs):
McGrath Alaska Community Message Board: Medevac

I am assuming this was a ride within Fairbanks itself, from the U to the hospital since 10 minutes... I wonder what the cost is for a Medivac from Barrow to Anchorage, or maybe total cost and say go to Seattle? Just to get proper care

[Grannysroost]

Originally Posted by Floyd_Davidson

It actually is not that simple minded.

There is no burn unit in Alaska, for example. Hence it is essential to go Outside for a severe burn. On the other hand, going to Seattle for a typical cardiac bypass or angioplasty is unnecessary given the excellent work done at Providence in Anchorage.

There are other similar opposites. For many years one of the best urologists in the country worked in Fairbanks.

Specialists can be hard to come by even in the more urban areas of Alaska. When my granddaughter had a relapse a year ago, the pediatric nephrologist from Seattle only visited Anchorage maybe once every 6 months, hence you have to go to Seattle or elsewhere. Her doc in Soldotna told me I better go apply for Denali Kid Care because it could get expensive even with the insurance we already had in Alaska. I knew we wouldn't qualify as we had too many assets... He told me when they got whittled down to go apply then... She ended up not needing the nephrologist (Thank you..), but her prior one in MN from the University gave all the directions and recommendations to the doc in town in AK.

[roadfamily6now]

We have Tricare but we are no longer active duty. We get good care here from our local civilian providers. Sen. Ted Stevens work hard to get the US GOverment to pay the Doctors more for Tricare. In fact I think they reimburse the Docs more here then they do in the Lower 48.

There was a time when our family used the Denali Kid Care and I never had any issues. WE have lived in Delta Junction and Fairbanks, before coming to Anchorage. I found the primary care in those places to be very good and the care provider very competent and caring. Our costs were not very high either considering my Husband is a Type 1 Diabetic and he does require a bit more "maintainance" then the average jo.

I have heard that those on Medicaid and Medicare and the Alaskan Natives receive excellent care when they live in the villages and bush. Dont they get to fly into Anchorage or Fairbanks when necessary and it is paid for by the insurance?

I know that they do this for Pregnant women. My friend was flown in from Nome and put up in a house while doing some testing and for her bedrest. She paid nothing for this serivce.

[Barkingowl]

Originally Posted by RayinAK

Dental care is very expensive, too. For example a dental crown with root canal around Fairbanks costs from $1,000 to $1,400. Medical care is a lot more expensive than dental, however. A 10-min ride to the hospital on an ambulance could cost over $400.00 or more. My son had such an emergency not too long ago (Fairbanks), and for a ride to the hospital from the University cost $450.00.

Ray the costs for crowns is the same more or less as it is in the lower 48. The cost of an ambulance ride down where I live averages $600.

[bound2TN]

The following was posted earlier this year---

City doctors turn away new Medicare patients: Top Stories | adn.com

[nwcountrygal]

Thanks for the responses. Interesting again how it "is" differnt in ways in Hawaii and Alaska. I guess I didn't think of flying down to the Lower 48 to have procedures done. Thanks for staying to the subject I didn't intend for the thread to get political.. even if it is a topic for the US at this time.

That is a crazy asking for up front $$ for a surgery!!! I agree with the cost of crowns the same. Now having to be medivac to hosipital I was wondering about the cost. I wonder what the cost was for the cruise ship turning around after leaving and going back to let someone off for ambluance!

Being I am looking at summers in Alaska and winters in Hawaii guess I will stick to anything medical when I am inbetween in Washington. On the Big Island it is a very scary decision for many seniors (not my issue as of yet) to live on the island permanently due to low health care. I have Premeria/Blue Cross for insurance and was told Blue Cross would work for Alaska.

Sounds like it is expensive but has more facilities and DR's than Hawaii. Good luck and hope none of you have to go to the DR!!